For SEAL Team 6, an exception to the rule

After instituting a ban on honorary resolutions -- like those commemorating "National Asparagus Month" -- House Republicans may have found a way to make an exception for a weightier subject.

A resolution honoring the military forces involved in the Osama bin Laden mission is expected to come to the floor as an amendment to an intelligence spending bill later this week, a House leadership aide said Tuesday.

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The Senate passed a similar measure last week. But at the time, House leaders said they wouldn't be following suit, citing the newly instituted prohibition on taking up a measure that expresses "appreciation, commends, congratulates, celebrates, recognizes the accomplishments of, or celebrates the anniversary of" any entity.

House rules, however, only prohibit stand-alone resolution, and do not bar such measures if they are introduced as amendments, the aide said.

The rule, enacted when House Republicans took the helm in January, was intended to keep trivial measures from clogging up the schedule. Lawmakers have a known penchant for wanting to pay tribute to vegetables, race tracks and ancient thinkers on the House floor, as Times reporters Rich Simon and Lisa Mascaro

While some mourned the loss of the chance to pass homage to Confucius, few raised concerns that the new ban would prevent the House from recognizing significant moments in history. When that seemed to the case, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said leaders had found a more substantial way to honor the special forces. They expedited consideration of an intelligence spending bill.